Atal Bihari Vajpayee Health Updates: Several BJP leaders visited AIIMS where the former PM is admitted

New Delhi:

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former prime minister and BJP stalwart, has been put on life-support system, the AIIMS said in a statement on Wednesday. The hospital said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee's condition worsened over the past 24 hours. Mr Vajpayee was admitted to the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on June 11 with urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion.

Leaders across party lines have prayed for his recovery. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the AIIMS on Wednesday evening to enquire about Mr Vajpayee's condition. BJP president Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, senior leader LK Advani and other leaders have also visited AIIMS.

93-year-old Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who retired from public life after his health turned frail, has been under the supervision of Dr Randeep Guleria, the Director of AIIMS. For over three decades, Dr Guleria, a pulmonologist, has served as personal physician to Mr Vajpayee.

Members of the Beriwal family where former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to put up during his visits to the city, are praying for his speedy recovery as his condition remains critical at the Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences."

Aug 16, 2018

16:08 (IST)

Rahul Gandhi is in AIIMS to visit Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Rahul Gandhi arrived at AIIMS to visit former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "Atal Bihari Vajpayee is in the hospital and we pray for him," Congress president Rahul Gandhi had earlier said.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah after visiting the hospital said,"We should not forget he is one Indian leader who wanted to strengthen the country."

Aug 16, 2018

15:36 (IST)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's family friends pray for speedy recovery

Members of the Beriwal family where former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to put up during his visits to the city, are praying for his speedy recovery as his condition remains critical at the Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences, according to news agency PTI.

For the Beriwals of Chittaranjan Avenue in the city, Vajpayee is a family friend.

"Whenever he had a programme in Bihar, Odisha, he used to go via Kolkata and would come to our house", Ghanshyam Beriwal said.

Aug 16, 2018

15:09 (IST)

"Atal Bihari Vajpayee is in the hospital and we pray for him," Congress president Rahul Gandhi says at the "Sanjhi Virasat Bachao Sammelan" in Delhi: ANI

Aug 16, 2018

14:52 (IST)

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das says that 2.25 people of the state are praying for Atal Bihari Vajpayee's health, adding that he is hoping for the former Prime Minister's quick recovery

Aug 16, 2018

14:50 (IST)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left AIIMS, where Atal Bihari Vajpayee is admitted

Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a diabetic with only one functional kidney. He suffered a stroke in 2009 that weakened his cognitive abilities. He subsequently developed dementia

Aug 16, 2018

14:30 (IST)

Security has been heightened at AIIMS, where Atal Bihari Vajpayee is admitted

Aug 16, 2018

14:28 (IST)

"My prayers are with him, his presence is a great power to our democracy, He is a large-hearted person. Even if I opposed him, he was very dignified about it which speaks volume. He is very generous & very forthcoming," filmmaker Muzaffar Ali told ANI

Aug 16, 2018

14:27 (IST)

"Join the country in praying for the health of Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji," Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh tweeted

"I have cancelled my work to visit Atal Bihari Vajpayee today. I got the chance to work with him. He is a statesman like figure. We supported him when his government was falling. His pattern of work was different and not like present politics," Mamata Banerjee told ANI

Aug 16, 2018

14:12 (IST)

As Atal Bihari Vajpayee's condition worsens, all Independence Day decorations have been removed from the BJP headquarters

Aug 16, 2018

13:57 (IST)

Deeply concerned with the critical health condition of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji ! He is one of the greatest Indian leaders we have seen. I wish him a speedy recovery and I pray for overcoming this critical condition.

Speaking on Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said "I served as a member of his cabinet for two years, to hear about his health is distressing. He is a great leader and to work under him was a very good experience. I would be flying to Delhi today"

Aug 16, 2018

13:25 (IST)

In Punjab's Ludhiana, special prayers have been offered for Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Sakteshwar Mahadev Ashram

Aug 16, 2018

13:18 (IST)

Sources say BJP national executive meeting that is to be held on August 18 and 19 may be postponed due to Atal Bihari Vajpayee's health

We all should pray for his recovery. We should not forget that he is a leader who wanted to make the country strong. He wanted peace not only in our country but the whole world: Farooq Abdullah on Atal Bihari Vajpayee

He is our idol. With just his presence we got inspiration and encouragement, we pray for his health, no one can ever be like Atal Ji, campaigning for him was an honour for me: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj has reached AIIMS to enquire about the health of the former Prime Minister

Aug 16, 2018

10:42 (IST)

Speaking about Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma says "The news of his ill-health has saddened me. He has always been an inspiration and a guide to me"

Aug 16, 2018

10:33 (IST)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Kanti Mishra said to ANI "I have been praying to god that just once I can see him give a speech again. Our family can never ever erase that image of his from our minds. I hope he gets well soon"

Aug 16, 2018

10:23 (IST)

Home Minister Rajnath Singh also arrived at AIIMS to enquire about the health of the former Prime Minister

"Visited AIIMS to enquire about the health of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. Discussed with the medical team. Praying to God that he responds to treatment and recovers soon. Millions of people are praying for him," Suresh Prabhu writes on Twitter.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee is under the supervision of Dr Randeep Guleria, a pulmonologist and currently the Director of AIIMS. Dr Guleria has served as personal physician to Mr Vajpayee for over three decades.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday visited AIIMS to enquire about Atal Bihari Vajpayee's health. PM Modi reached the hospital at around 7.15 pm and spent about 50 minutes there. This was PM Modi's fourth visit to Mr Vajpayee in AIIMS since he has been admitted.